Waves created by melting Arctic sea ice may not worsen the loss of additional ice as much as has been speculated in the past, according to new research from the University of Alberta.
Bruce Sutherland, an expert in geophysical fluid dynamics, conducted a study that showed floating particles dampen surface waves and remove the energy they release.
“If you drink a margarita with rocks or slush, you’ll notice that it does not slosh around as much as a glass of water,” explained Sutherland.
“As the waves pass, the floating particles repeatedly separate and squish back together, forcing water to be squeezed in and out of the spaces between the particles like an accordion. With such fast motion on such small scales, viscosity efficiently removes the energy of the waves.”
Continue reading at University of Alberta.
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